The Hon. K. Sujith Sanjaya Perera

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, within my remaining two minutes I will speak on the onion and potato levy under the Special Commodity Levy Bill debated today. We discussed Bombay onions and potatoes at length. Therefore, I will be brief.

¶ 02 Farmers in Nuwara Eliya told me that vegetable prices have currently fallen drastically. Growers are in distress, including potato and big onion farmers.

¶ 03 The Hon. Minister said solutions are being provided, and that imposing this levy belatedly was not irregular. My point is this: had this levy been imposed two or three months ago, it would have helped our farmers. By now, around 50,000 metric tons of imported potatoes and big onions are in our markets. How can we control prices and ensure fair prices for our farmers with such stocks present? Imported potatoes are retailing at Rs. 180–210 per kilo. This has not delivered fairness to our domestic farmers. Even with the levy now in place, I do not think our farmers will gain much benefit.

¶ 04 [Document placed in the Library.]

¶ 05 Hon. Presiding Member, there is another issue. At one time, vegetable cultivation unique to Nuwara Eliya declined, which created some price stability for upcountry vegetables due to supply gaps in other regions. Now, with similar crops being grown in Kalpitiya, Puttalam and Mannar, there is an overall surplus entering the market. When there is a surplus, no farmer receives a fair price—neither those in Nuwara Eliya nor in Puttalam. Therefore, I request the intervention of the Minister of Agriculture to implement a rational framework—like in China or Vietnam—where specific districts and zones are demarcated for defined crops. That would enable price stabilization and fair returns to all. Thank you.